Notting Hill has transformed from its previous scruffy-bohemian reputation to a more than acceptable neighbourhood with lots of character. Notting Hill is renowned for its Portobello Road Market and the annual Notting Hill Carnival, the largest street festival in Europe. Antique shops, art galleries, quaint boutiques, old cinemas and one of a kind coffee shops or cafes saturate the neighbourhood.

The area is surrounded by Maida Vale to the North, Bayswater and the northern tip of Kensington Gardens to the East, Kensington to the South and Holland Park to the West. Similar to many other areas of London, the borders are blurred, to say the least. All of Notting Hill has a W11 postcode, but W11 includes other areas as well.

The southern section of Notting Hill is much wealthier than the North. Notting Hill is home to people from various social classes and races; it is estimated that 100 languages are spoken here.

Housing trusts own predominant chunks of Notting Hill, continuing to preserve the social mix in the area.

The Crescent streets are the most enviable to live on, being at the very top of the hill. Mansion houses from mid-Victorian times still remain as single homes. The streets curve among an expansive area filled with gardens.

Restaurants in Notting Hill are not as elaborate as ones in Mayfair or Knightsbridge, but they do have more charm and personality. Places such as The Tabernacle and Bloody French will provide an interesting and unforgettable dining experience. Books For Cooks, on Blenheim Crescent, is a bookshop-cafe combination whose chef cooks something every day from one of the cookbooks in the shop. There is only one choice per course, which may not be great for a picky eater, however it is a favourite spot among locals.